Perspectives

The healthcare industry has yet to fully reckon with the profound impact climate change is having on patient health and care delivery. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, worsening air quality, and shifting disease patterns are already increasing hospital admissions, worsening chronic conditions, and disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. Currently, nearly 1 in 4 total global deaths are linked to modifiable environmental conditions, and between 2030 to 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year, from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress alone. It will also cause $12.5 trillion in economic losses by 2050. Yet, while industries like energy, finance, and real estate have begun integrating climate adaptation into their strategies, healthcare has largely overlooked the need for technology-driven solutions that can help consumers and providers navigate a rapidly changing environment.

This lack of urgency presents both a significant risk and an untapped opportunity. Just as COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of telehealth and digital care models, climate-driven health challenges will force a transformation in how care is delivered, accessed, and experienced. While much of climate tech has historically focused on mitigation – such as renewable energy and carbon capture – investors are increasingly backing adaptation technologies that address immediate climate risks. In healthcare, startups focused on heat stress prevention, climate-driven disease surveillance, and disaster-resilient care are gaining early traction as stakeholders look to protect patients while containing rising costs.

Major healthcare players are already integrating climate-health solutions into their models. CVS Health is leveraging environmental data analytics and patient medical records to provide excessive heat and air quality alerts to at-risk patients up to a week in advance. Also, employers and pharmaceutical companies are partnering with climate-tech startups to integrate environmental data into patient care. Prior to its acquisition by Google, both Apple and AstraZeneca teamed up with BreezoMeter, which provides hyper-local, real-time air quality and pollen data. The platform powers apps and devices with personalized health recommendations – such as when to take allergy medication or limit outdoor exposure – illustrating the growing demand for climate-informed health solutions. Additionally, Mercer and the Health Action Alliance have launched the Climate Health Cost Forecaster to help employers estimate and manage rising health care costs linked to climate-related risks like heat, air quality, and flooding.

Despite this early momentum, climate-health innovation remains in its infancy. While some incumbents are piloting programs related to climate-related health risks, most are still reacting to crises rather than proactively integrating climate adaptation into their care models. But as extreme weather events, pollution-related diseases, and climate-driven care disruptions become more frequent and severe, healthcare will no longer have the option to ignore the challenge.

While climate change affects nearly every aspect of healthcare, certain areas present the most urgent and investable opportunities. Emerging companies at the intersection of climate and health are driving innovation across multiple themes (arranged from event-driven to ongoing challenges):

• Disaster Preparedness – Ensuring healthcare continuity during wildfires, hurricanes, and extreme weather events through emergency logistics, telehealth, and supply chain resilience.
• Infectious Disease & Water Quality – Using AI and bio-surveillance to track, predict, and prevent climate-driven disease outbreaks and waterborne illnesses.
• Extreme Heat – Preventing heat-related illness in vulnerable populations through real-time biometric monitoring and predictive analytics to protect seniors, workers, and outdoor laborers.
• Air Quality – Leveraging environmental data and digital therapeutics to help individuals manage asthma, COPD, and other pollution-related conditions.
• Nutrition Resilience – Expanding access to climate-smart nutrition programs, promoting regenerative agriculture, and addressing food insecurity through sustainable food systems.
• Mental Health & Climate Anxiety – Addressing the psychological toll of climate change, including eco-anxiety, trauma from extreme weather events, and climate-related stress disorders.
• Resilient Healthcare Infrastructure – Strengthening healthcare systems, hospitals, and supply chains to withstand climate disruptions and ensure continued care delivery.

Considering the tremendous impact of each of these core categories at the intersection of climate and health, the need for investment and innovation has never been more urgent. Healthcare leaders that embrace climate adaptation today will not only improve patient outcomes – they will also reduce costs, prevent crises, and build more resilient, consumer-centric health systems for the future.

Climate Health Market Landscape

While still an emerging market, companies across each of these sectors are developing solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change on patient health.

Disaster Preparedness

As climate disasters intensify, ensuring healthcare continuity is increasingly urgent. Along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, 25 of 78 metropolitan areas have half or more of their hospitals at risk of flooding, exposing critical gaps in emergency response. Companies are addressing this through emergency logistics and telehealth to ensure care continues despite extreme weather disruptions.

Zipline, the world’s largest drone delivery network, is partnering with U.S. health systems like Mayo Clinic and Memorial Hermann to deliver prescriptions and medical supplies by drone, ensuring access when roads are flooded. After hurricanes, Zipline has successfully transported insulin and antibiotics to stranded patients, proving its ability to strengthen healthcare logistics.

Everbridge provides critical event management to help hospitals track staff and patients during evacuations. Furthermore, telehealth platforms integrate with emergency response systems so that, if a hospital closes, patients can seamlessly transition to virtual care.

At the community level, 7wire portfolio company, GroundGame Health, helps individuals navigate social determinants of health by connecting them to essential services like housing assistance, food programs, and financial resources. As climate change exacerbates health disparities – through extreme weather, displacement, and worsening chronic conditions – GroundGame’s platform ensures vulnerable populations can access the support they need to maintain stability and well-being.

Infectious Disease & Water Quality

Rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns are accelerating the spread of infectious diseases. Over half of known human pathogenic diseases can be aggravated by climate change, as mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria and dengue expand into new regions, and waterborne outbreaks such as cholera increase due to flooding and contamination.

BlueDot, a Canadian health AI startup, uses data to forecast infectious disease outbreaks, partnering with governments, health systems, and payers. It flagged the COVID-19 threat days before official alerts, highlighting the power of AI-driven early detection.

Biobot Analytics is pioneering the use of wastewater monitoring to detect viral and bacterial outbreaks before they spread, offering an early-warning system for public health agencies and municipalities. By detecting disease before symptoms appear in individuals, wastewater surveillance provides a low-cost, scalable solution for tracking climate-driven health threats in real time.

Extreme Heat

Heat waves are already one of the deadliest climate-related threats, and climate change could triple U.S. heat deaths by mid-century. Vulnerable populations – including outdoor workers, the elderly, and individuals with chronic conditions – face increased risks of heat exhaustion, stroke, and cardiovascular complications. Furthermore, studies have shown that rates of preterm and early-term births increased when local temperatures were abnormally hot for more than four consecutive days and that nonoptimal temperatures account for almost 9% of the world’s 1.8M annual cardiovascular deaths. As extreme temperatures become more frequent, wearable biometric monitoring and predictive analytics are being deployed to prevent heat-related illnesses, enabling real-time interventions to protect at-risk populations.

Kenzen is a wearable tech company whose smart sensor continuously monitors workers’ core temperature, heart rate, and exertion to prevent heat stress on the job. Kenzen’s arm-mounted device and software platform alert both workers and supervisors when a person is approaching dangerous heat strain. With rising workplace safety regulations around heat, Kenzen’s B2B solution is gaining traction to reduce heat-related injuries and liability.

Epicore Biosystems is pioneering sweat-sensing wearable technology to help workers and athletes monitor hydration and core temperature in extreme heat conditions. The company’s Connected Hydration platform tracks real-time sweat loss, sodium levels, and skin temperature, providing personalized hydration insights to prevent heat exhaustion. Epicore has partnered with Fortune 500 companies and research institutions to integrate its technology.

Air Quality

Air pollution is a growing driver of respiratory illness, contributing to higher rates of asthma, COPD, and other chronic conditions. Air pollution-related health care costs globally are projected to increase from $21 billion in 2015 to $176 billion in 2060. Alarmingly, about 860,000 outdoor workers worldwide die each year due to air pollution exposure – highlighting the need for tools that monitor environmental conditions and help prevent acute health events.

Real-time air quality tracking and AI-driven respiratory management platforms are helping individuals and providers mitigate exposure and prevent acute health crises. In addition to BreezoMeter’s previously mentioned acquisition by Google, notable exits include Propeller Health, which was acquired by ResMed, enabling smart inhaler connectivity to help asthma and COPD patients adjust treatment based on environmental triggers.

Other companies are continuing to innovate in this space. IQAir, a leader in air purification and environmental intelligence, powers real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) data used in Google Maps and offers medical-grade filtration systems adopted by hospitals, schools, and municipalities. NuvoAir, a digital health company focused on respiratory care, combines connected spirometry, symptom tracking, and remote coaching to help patients and providers manage conditions like asthma and COPD – bringing environmental insights and clinical data together for proactive care.

Nutrition Resilience

Droughts and floods are already disrupting global agriculture, with 733 million people facing hunger in 2023. Growing instability in food supply chains is accelerating innovation in climate-resilient food systems focused on sustainability, freshness, and equitable nutrition access.

Square Roots operates modular, climate-controlled indoor farms built inside repurposed shipping containers, enabling hyper-local food production year-round. To keep their operations on track toward a low-carbon future, Square Roots has partnered with enterprise climate platform Watershed to help achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The company also partners with institutions like schools, corporate campuses, and healthcare services to distribute fresh, sustainably grown produce to populations that might otherwise face nutrition gaps due to climate-related disruptions.

Gotham Greens runs a national network of high-tech greenhouses that use hydroponics and renewable energy to produce leafy greens and herbs with 95% less water than traditional farming. Located on rooftops and near urban centers, their facilities ensure consistent access to fresh produce regardless of outdoor climate conditions. By supplying major retailers such as Whole Foods, Target, and Amazon Fresh, Gotham Greens plays a critical role in reinforcing local food resilience while reducing the carbon and spoilage costs associated with long-haul distribution.

Food-as-medicine companies like Season Health and Foodsmart complement these efforts by partnering with health plans to provide medically tailored meals and grocery benefits, improving nutrition access for vulnerable populations affected by climate-related food insecurity.

Mental Health & Climate Anxiety

The psychological toll of climate change is profound, with 75% of young adults across 10 nations reporting that ‘the future is frightening’ due to environmental concerns. The majority of Americans – an estimated 200 million – experience stress, anxiety, or depression because of climate-related events. Rising climate anxiety, trauma from extreme weather events, and eco-grief are driving demand for accessible mental health solutions that help individuals cope with uncertainty and build resilience.

Climate Mental Health Network (CMHN) and Good Grief Network are pioneering non-profit organizations focused on the mental health impacts of climate change. Through educational tools, peer support groups, and therapist training, they help individuals process the emotional burden of a warming world and foster psychological preparedness for climate disruptions.

Headspace integrates climate-specific content into its digital platform, including a “Managing Climate Anxiety” meditation guide that helps users navigate emotions like fear, grief, and overwhelm. The company has also partnered with public agencies and employers to provide free mental health resources during environmental crises, ensuring timely access to care when it’s needed most.

Broader digital mental health platforms like Talkspace and Lyra provide on-demand therapy and coaching that can be adapted to climate-driven stressors. While not exclusively focused on climate, their reach and accessibility make them critical tools in addressing the growing behavioral health burden caused by environmental instability.

Resilient Healthcare Infrastructure

Hospitals and healthcare facilities consume 2.5 times more energy per square foot than typical commercial buildings, making them highly vulnerable to climate-driven power outages. As extreme weather events increasingly disrupt energy grids and supply chains, investment in microgrids, sustainable hospital design, and infrastructure resilience is critical to ensuring continuous, high-quality care.

Jupiter Intelligence, a climate risk analytics firm, models the impact of climate hazards on hospitals, clinics, and supply chains. The platform helps health insurers and systems identify at-risk facilities, enabling proactive measures like backup power and mobile clinics. As health systems develop climate action plans, Jupiter’s data supports resilient facility planning – from hardening existing hospitals to determining safer locations for new clinics.

Microgrid and generator services startups, including BlocPower and Scale Microgrids, are working with hospitals to install solar and battery microgrids that keep critical systems operational during blackouts. These solutions prevent life-threatening power loss – ensuring ventilators, vaccine freezers, and life-saving equipment stay functional.

7wire’s Predictions for the Future of Climate and Health

At 7wire Ventures, we invest in solutions that empower individuals to actively manage their health – providing the tools, insights, and access needed to navigate care with greater efficiency and affordability. As climate change increasingly affects health outcomes, the need for consumer-centric, tech-enabled solutions that help people manage climate-related health risks is becoming more urgent.

The companies best positioned to succeed in this space will be those that meet individuals where they are, deliver meaningful, actionable insights, and ensure consistent access to care – all in alignment with 7wire’s vision of a future where individuals are equipped and supported to make informed decisions about their health.

Here are our three key predictions about how climate-driven needs will influence healthcare innovation and investment in the near future:

1. Climate Adaptation Will Become a Core Healthcare Strategy

Rising costs from climate-related claims and care disruptions will push insurers to launch dedicated “Climate Health” programs – identifying at-risk members and offering preventive services like pre-disaster medication refills and free telehealth during crises. Providers, particularly value-based care groups, will invest in remote monitoring for vulnerable populations to prevent costly hospitalizations.

This shift will unlock new funding for startups building climate adaptation solutions. VC interest is already growing, with 28% of climate-tech VC deals in 2023 focused on adaptation and resilience, rather than mitigation. As major healthcare players seek climate-health capabilities, we expect increased funding, strategic acquisitions, and corporate investments, making adaptation tech a rapidly expanding segment.

2. Digital Health Will Become Essential for Climate Resilience

Extreme weather events will force widespread adoption of digital health, converting even skeptics. Each hurricane, wildfire, or flood will highlight telehealth’s ability to maintain access to care, driving permanent uptake among patients, providers, and payers. Regulators will respond, expanding reimbursement for telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and AI-driven triage, citing their role in disaster preparedness.

Remote monitoring will play a key role in climate resilience, helping providers track at-risk patients during heatwaves or poor air quality events. AI-powered home-based monitoring tools could flag deteriorating health conditions, triggering proactive interventions via telemedicine. By 2030, digital health will be fully integrated into standard care, creating a hybrid model where in-person and virtual care are seamlessly available, lowering costs and improving outcomes.

3. Climate & Health Data Fusion Will Power AI-Driven Preventive Care

The intersection of environmental and health data will fuel a new era of AI-driven population health management. Health systems will integrate climate analytics into electronic health records, unlocking preventive insights – for example, identifying medications that increase hospitalization risk during heatwaves or predicting mental health crises based on drought patterns. This trend mirrors how fintech combined alternative data with AI to assess credit risk.

Expect new startups specializing in climate-health risk scoring and decision support, selling insights to payers, pharma, and public health agencies. Over time, environmental determinants of health will be factored into care plans. Investors who back this fusion of AI, big data, and climate-health intelligence will be tapping into a high-growth frontier.

Our Call to Action

Climate change is placing new pressures on healthcare – increasing costs, worsening chronic conditions, and disrupting care delivery. At 7wire, we believe climate adaptation is essential to the future of consumer-driven healthcare. Companies that integrate digital health and climate-informed data won’t just withstand climate pressures – they will define the next era of healthcare, where resilience and sustainability align with access, affordability, and better care.

7wire is actively exploring opportunities in this space. If you share our passion, we’d love to hear from you – please reach out to us at dealpipeline@7wireventures.com.